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‘Events. Reimagined’: business events campaign launched by VisitBritain
Events, Sports Business

‘Events. Reimagined’: business events campaign launched by VisitBritain

VisitBritain is urging event organisers to innovate and “reimagine the future” as the sector looks to recover from the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. The UK’s £84bn events and MICE industry has been one of the hardest hit sectors by the coronavirus, with many venues still closed and conferences and exhibitions postponed or cancelled.  As part of its international hosted buyer partnership with The Meetings Show, the VisitBritain tourism agency has launched a new business events campaign - "Events. Reimagined". The aim of the campaign is to “reboot, refresh and reimagine” future events in the UK.     In a statement, VisitBritain said: “With such enormous upheaval recently, the events industry will see innovation and change unlike ever before. The new ‘Reimagine’ campaign is to he...
F1 Portuguese Grand Prix: motorsport fans get revved up for Algarve race
Events, Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business, Sports Travel, Venues & Stadiums

F1 Portuguese Grand Prix: motorsport fans get revved up for Algarve race

Motorsport fans could witness history at the next Formula 1 grand prix when it descends on the beautiful southern shoreline of the Algarve later this month.  Having equalled Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91 F1 victories by winning the Eifel GP at the Nürburgring, Lewis Hamilton could go one better with a win in Portugal and write a new chapter in the sport.  For that reason motorsport fans will be even more eager to say “I was there” if indeed Hamilton takes the checkered flag on 25 October.   This year the 2020 Portuguese GP takes place over 66 laps of the 4.684-kilometre Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão.  João Fernandes, president of Algarve Tourism, said: “Formula 1 has been absent from Portugal for 24 years and it is a prestigious inte...
Scottish Golf Tourism Week: 2020 event postponed and new dates announced for 2021
Sports Business

Scottish Golf Tourism Week: 2020 event postponed and new dates announced for 2021

The fifth edition of Scottish Golf Tourism Week, which was due to take place in November, has now been postponed until 2021. This year’s event had been scheduled for 5-11 November, but the Covid-19 pandemic has forced organisers to amend their plans. The event at the Fairmont St Andrews will now take place from 30 March to 1 April 2021.  A statement read: “Following consultation with international tour operators faced with little prospect of being able to travel to Scotland, organisers have sought to postpone the event. The good news for the Scottish golf tourism industry is that new dates have now been announced with Scottish Golf Tourism Week now returning at the start of the 2021 golf season.” Tom Lovering, commercial director at PSP Media Group, added: “Scottish Golf Tour...
Racing League: 2021 meeting dates and how it works
Events, Guides, Sports Business

Racing League: 2021 meeting dates and how it works

Championship Horse Racing has confirmed that the inaugural season of the Racing League will begin in July 2021. Held over six consecutive Thursday evenings, the new flat racing competition will be contested at four of the UK’s leading racecourses - Doncaster, Lingfield Park, Newcastle and Royal Windsor. Racing League 2021 race days  Race Day 1: Newcastle – 29 July Race Day 2: Doncaster – 5 August Race Day 3: Lingfield Park – 12 August Race Day 4: Royal Windsor – 19 August Race Day 5: Lingfield Park – 26 August Race Day 6: Newcastle – 2 September Race Distances Each meeting will have six races over the following distances: 5 furlongs 6 furlongs 7 furlongs 8 furlongs – 1-mile race 10 furlongs – 1 and ¼ mile race 12 furlongs – 1 and ½ mile race The format will...
Sport + Travel interview: Dinah Josephs, group fitness manager at The Campus, Quinta do Lago, Portugal
Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Sport + Travel interview: Dinah Josephs, group fitness manager at The Campus, Quinta do Lago, Portugal

The wellness and activity holiday trend has been evolving rapidly over recent years. Right now there has never been a greater need for vacations which enhance your mental and physical needs, and Dinah Josephs, group fitness manager at The Campus, Quinta do Lago, Portugal is at the forefront of facilitating that trend. She has nearly two decades of experience under her belt as an international health, fitness and wellbeing lifestyle professional and consultant, in a range of sports environments. Dinah specialises in yoga practise, personal training, group fitness training, healthy eating, nutritional advice and guidance and natural health using a holistic approach to wellbeing. As for The Campus, Dinah cannot speak highly enough (and without bias) about her place of work. So read on...
Sport Events Congress 2021: Sport Tourism Canada aims to ‘bounce back’ in Ottawa
Sports Business

Sport Events Congress 2021: Sport Tourism Canada aims to ‘bounce back’ in Ottawa

Sport Tourism Canada has announced the dates and host cities for the next four editions of its popular Sport Events Congress (SEC).  After the disappointment of having to cancel in 2020, Sport Tourism Canada is aiming to “bounce back” in the nation's capital when SEC21 is held at The Westin Ottawa in Ottawa from 7-8 April. The hybrid event will also feature “SEC Virtually” on 9 April.   SEC, a three-day interactive and educational event, has previously attracted more than 400 attendees. Delegates include sport organisations, event rights holders, destination tourism professionals, event suppliers, event management firms and hoteliers. Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media 2021 #SportsBiz events and conferences https://www.youtube.com/watch...
Sport + Travel Interview: Marco Koch – Olympic elite swimmer
Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business, Sports Travel, Venues & Stadiums

Sport + Travel Interview: Marco Koch – Olympic elite swimmer

It is not often you have the chance to pose questions to a European and World Champion swimmer, who is the former world record holder in the 200 meter breaststroke (short course). So here at Sports Tourism Media we are both excited and delighted to introduce Marco Koch, a German competitive swimmer, specialising in breaststroke events who has competed at the 2012 & 2016 Summer Olympics and took gold at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia. Marco says "I'm in my comfort zone in the water as swimming is my passion. I enjoy every second. The water unfolds my full potential. It carries and leads me. Water gives me a great feeling." (marco-koch.org, 20 Jan 2018). We are grateful Marco has taken time out of a gruelling training regime to answer our questions… Newsletter:...
An £84bn industry in crisis: surely jobs in events and MICE are ‘viable’?
Sports Business, Sports Travel

An £84bn industry in crisis: surely jobs in events and MICE are ‘viable’?

In September the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak outlined the UK government’s “Winter Economy Plan” which will see the furlough scheme replaced and more support given to sectors hit hard by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.  While Sunak unveiled the new Job Support Scheme, which will launch on 1 November for six months, he also announced plans for business loans, VAT cuts and help for the self-employed.  The Treasury also said the new scheme will protect “viable jobs” in companies who are “facing lower demand over the winter months due to coronavirus”. So which jobs are deemed as “viable”. It’s a question many professionals across the UK are seeking answers for. Sky News business presenter Ian King asks: which are the workers who are most at risk of losing ...
Sport + Travel Interview: Martina Jamnig – director, Austrian National Tourist Office UK
Holidays & Trips, Sports Business

Sport + Travel Interview: Martina Jamnig – director, Austrian National Tourist Office UK

Martina Jamnig is the director of the Austrian National Tourist Office UK, promoting a country which she describes as a "playground for sport". Originating from Austria’s sunshine state Carinthia, which borders with Italy and Slovenia, adventure sport is in her blood, as is football. As a season ticket holder at Arsenal FC, she plans vacations around the team's playing schedule and has travelled far and wide following the Gunners. Her two main passions, sport and travel, have been a consistent thread throughout her life, both personally and professionally. Examples of this include having worked as a project executive, in close collaboration with Uefa, for the Euro 2008 football championship. She also volunteered at the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics, where she worked with foo...
Sailing: next edition of The Ocean Race to start in Alicante in October 2022
Events, Sports Business

Sailing: next edition of The Ocean Race to start in Alicante in October 2022

The Ocean Race organisers have confirmed that the next edition of the event will start from Alicante, Spain, in October 2022 and finish in Genova, Italy, in the summer of 2023.  For the first time in its history, further event dates have also been confirmed through the next 10 years and a feasibility study is currently underway for a European race to take place in the summer of 2021.  The change to the start date for the next edition of the round the world race follows a strategic planning process and consultations with stakeholders to determine the best path forward in a sporting landscape impacted by Covid-19.  Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media Richard Brisius, race chairman, said: “Since 1973, The Ocean Race has been one of the toughest challenges in sport. Win...
Sport + Travel Interview: Pip Hare – British single-handed ocean racing sailor
Sports Business, Sports Travel

Sport + Travel Interview: Pip Hare – British single-handed ocean racing sailor

At 12:02 GMT on the 8th Nov 2020, 34 competitors of the Vendée Globe race, will sail non-stop, unassisted, single handed around the world via three capes and three oceans in an effort to complete one of the most demanding and prestigious events within the sailing and sporting calendar. Pip Hare is one of those competitors; a British single-handed ocean racing sailor, journalist, coach and inspirational speaker. With 2 world-first endurance records to her name, the winner of multiple international yacht races, and 20 years of experience in ocean racing, Pip will be taking part in this year’s iconic Vendée Globe – the world’s toughest single-handed yacht race - with the ambition of breaking the current female record. Sports Tourism Media wishes Pip good luck on this tremendous endeavour and ...
2020 #SportsBiz conferences: sports tourism and travel industry events
Guides, Sports Business, Sports Travel

2020 #SportsBiz conferences: sports tourism and travel industry events

Sports business and sports tourism conferences are a huge driver for the travel industry. However, the sector has been hit hard this year by the coronavirus pandemic with many events cancelled, postponed or rescheduled. Here we look at the #SportsBiz events, conferences, exhibitions and awards scheduled to take place in 2020. All events are subject to change due to Covid-19. Sport + Travel Magazine: sign up for the free monthly digital publication 2020 sports calendar: major sporting events 2020 sports business calendar  December 2020 Business of Sport Summit When: 1-2 December 2020 Where: RACV City Club in Melbourne, Australia and delivered digitally Website: sportsleaders.com.au The Stadium Business Summit When: 1-3 December 2020 Where: online Website: stadiumbusinesssummit.com Maj...
The Sports Tourism Blog: how esports blur the lines between reality and virtual reality
Sports Business

The Sports Tourism Blog: how esports blur the lines between reality and virtual reality

By Ramy Salameh Imagine having the chance to compete against a true sporting great. It’s unthinkable for the vast majority of people, but based on the current esports revolution this may well be a plausible concept in the cyber world of the future.  Since my last article - Could esports be the ‘virtual’ savior of global sporting events? - many more international sports stars, clubs and events have announced and seen the potential of running an esport tournament.  It provides global sports fans entertainment, links into growing esports audiences since the coronavirus pandemic halted conventional sports and most importantly, provides the sports industry a means to charitably support efforts to tackle Covid-19. Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism News & Events Major ...
The Sports Tourism Blog: can esports be the ‘virtual’ saviour for major sport?
Events, Sports Business

The Sports Tourism Blog: can esports be the ‘virtual’ saviour for major sport?

The Sports Events Blog by co-editor Ramy Salameh The Covid-19 pandemic will reignite the many questions around the “risk vs. return-on-investment” when hosting major sporting events and whether destinations will be reticent to bid in the future. Tokyo’s Olympics and Paralympics have now announced a postponement until July 2021 and the economic implications for Japan are yet to be fully realised based on this deferment.  However, could the esports industry provide some form of safety net and a major new opportunity to help balance the books of major sporting festivals of the future? The discussion has been on the table for a few years now. So much so, that esports may well be on track to be included as a demonstration event, to run prior to and in conjunction with the 2024 Olympic Ga...
The Sports Tourism Blog: ‘Dear NFL, please bring the Atlanta Falcons to London in 2021’
Events, Sports Business

The Sports Tourism Blog: ‘Dear NFL, please bring the Atlanta Falcons to London in 2021’

by Sports Tourism Media co-editor Mike Starling | @mikejstarling The NFL has confirmed that the 2020 London games will not be going ahead. As a fan of the Atlanta Falcons this is really disappointing news.  The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged this year’s sporting schedule and the NFL’s popular UK events have become the latest to fall victim to Covid-19.  NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood said: "The NFL's London Games have become a major part of the NFL season and the UK sports calendar. But the uncertainty in the current sporting landscape and the tremendous amount of long-term travel and planning required to stage successful London games mean this is the sensible decision to make." Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media Bitter blow for the FA, Spurs and ...
World Football Summit and Brazil icon Ronaldo Nazário launch WFS Live virtual event
Sports Business

World Football Summit and Brazil icon Ronaldo Nazário launch WFS Live virtual event

World Football Summit (WFS) has teamed up with legendary striker Ronaldo Nazário and Octagon Brasil to launch a four-day virtual conference - WFS Live powered by Octagon.  Taking place online from 6-9 July 2020, the football business event will see global leaders from the game come together to address the challenges and opportunities in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a WFS statement executives from clubs, leagues, federations, broadcasters, agencies and sponsorship brands will “lay sound foundations for the sport to continue growing into a new era”. Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media Brazilian icon Ronaldo Nazário, a two-time Fifa World Cup winner, is owner of Spanish La Liga club Real Valladolid and is also president of Octagon Brasil.  “T...
UFC returns: Dana White on UFC 249, Fight Island and 23 May event in Las Vegas
Events, Sports Business

UFC returns: Dana White on UFC 249, Fight Island and 23 May event in Las Vegas

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White had already confirmed three events for this month and now he has revealed plans for a fight night in Las Vegas on 23 May.  Due to the coronavirus measures the mixed martial arts (MMA) organisation was forced to suspend its calendar. However, UFC 249 is now rescheduled for this Saturday (9 May) while cards are also planned for 13 May and 16 May.  The three events will be held behind closed doors in Jacksonville, Florida.  In a pre-UFC 249 interview with Sports Illustrated, White also revealed plans for Vegas later this month.  He said: “While everybody was f------ lying out by the pool, hanging out and doing whatever the f--- they're doing in quarantine, we were in here f------ grinding, man. Fighting crazy wars every day to put ...
Bundesliga is back on 16 May: German football is first to restart in Europe
Sports Business

Bundesliga is back on 16 May: German football is first to restart in Europe

The German Bundesliga will be the first European football league to restart after getting the go-ahead from the government.  Chancellor Angela Merkel has approved plans for the top two professional divisions to resume and the German Football League (DFL) has confirmed that the first matches will be played on Saturday 16 May.  As part of the country’s ongoing coronavirus measures all matches will be played behind closed doors. Nine rounds of fixtures remain in the Bundesliga and the new schedule will see the final weekend of the season played on 27-28 June. Bayern Munich are currently top of the table.   Christian Seifert, DFL managing director, said: “[The] decision is good news for the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is associated with a great responsibility for the clubs and t...
£740m ‘black hole’: UK sport bodies face financial meltdown
Sports Business

£740m ‘black hole’: UK sport bodies face financial meltdown

Sport governing bodies in the United Kingdom are facing hundreds of millions of pounds in revenue losses from events and matches called off because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a hearing on Tuesday industry bosses from football, cricket, rugby union, Olympic and Paralympic sports told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee (DCMS) of the financial crisis for UK sporting organisations.  The Daily Telegraph reports that sport’s “darkest hour” will see a £740m “black hole” in the budgets of governing bodies. While the BBC puts the figure at “almost £700m”.  According to the Telegraph UK sporting organisations are facing the following: £200m shortfall for English Football League clubs £107m losses for rugby union if England’s autumn internationals are cancelled £380m ...
UCI WorldTour 2020 calendar: what dates are the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España and Tour de France?
Events, Guides, Sports Business

UCI WorldTour 2020 calendar: what dates are the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España and Tour de France?

Cycling’s world governing body the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has revealed details of its revised 2020 calendars for the UCI WorldTour and UCI Women’s WorldTour. The 2020 season has been suspended since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic and major events such as the Tour de France have been rescheduled. In a news release the UCI has confirmed that the men’s cycling WorldTour will start with the Strade Bianche in Italy on 1 August and finish at the Vuelta a España on 8 November. The series will include 25 events.  The Tour de France is scheduled to take place from 29 August to 20 September while the two other grand tours - the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España - will overlap in October. The Giro d’Italia is scheduled for 3-25 October while the Vuelta a España is scheduled f...

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